A group of ristras hanging in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photo courtesy of Albuquerque Convention Center. Folklore is our cultural DNA. It includes the traditional art, stories, knowledge, and practices of a people. While folklore can be bound up in memory and histories, folklore is also tied to vibrant living traditions and creative expression today. Folklore adapts, and folklore endures. Since 1888, the American Folklore Society has served the people and organizations engaged in understanding and advancing the field of folklore. We are proud to carry on this tradition as we face the needs of the 21st century. Join our network! Find your people, make connections, and keep track of developments in our field via our membership site. Welcome back, members! Login to our member site for access to your membership profile, account services, and benefits. The American Folklore Society is an international professional network serving the field of folklore, open to anyone working to understand or advance folk and traditional arts and the communities that sustain them. Our strength lives in our members, as we work to support them, their work, and our field. I believe that the study of folklore is a crucial way to understand human beings and their cultures, and the American Folklore Society will help keep the field of folklore healthy. The American Folklore Society manages a number of publications, projects, and programs serving our mission to strengthen, support, and increase understanding of the field of folklore. Journal of American FolkloreOur quarterly journal is one of the oldest and most respected folklore journals in the world, featuring work that engages with the broad field of folklore across academic, public, and applied works. Annual MeetingThe AFS annual meeting is the largest single gathering of folklorists in the world, where we gather to exchange work and ideas, and to create and strengthen friendships and working relationships. PrizesAFS recognizes outstanding achievement by awarding seven major prizes and numerous awards in specific subject areas. Taken together, the recipients of these prizes embody excellence in many forms of folklorists' work. China-US Folklore and Intangible Cultural Heritage ProjectSince 2007, this project has united scholars from the large and energetic folklore studies communities in China and the United States to share knowledge around the diverse work in and around the folk and traditional arts. Folklore Advocacy ToolkitA guide to promoting and sustaining folklore work in the United States, including tips specific to nonprofit organizations, higher education, independent folklorists, and community scholars. Get Our News We’ll send you occasional folklore news and connect you to the latest happenings in our community. EmailThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.